Ssemujju setting the pace in contest for new Kira municipality

Wakiso.

Parliament in August last year approved President’s Museveni’s proposal for the creation of 14 new municipalities in what he said was a continuation of the government’s policy aimed at bringing services closer to the people.

The creation of the 14 municipalities fell in place merely two days after Parliament approved the creation of 43 new constituencies.
The Opposition castigated the government, accusing it of balkanising the country into small unviable administrative units that are inadequately funded.

Others reasoned the government was dabbling in gerrymandering, creating new constituencies to strengthen its hold onto power by creating slots for its loyal supporters.
But the Opposition looks set to benefit from the new status in Wakiso District.

Four Member of Parliament aspirants are in the race to take Wakiso’s Kira municipality, including Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju, who presently represents Kyadondo East.

FDC’s Ssemujju appears to be the front-frunner in this race which has drawn Democratic Party’s Eddie Yawe, NRM’s Juliet Najjuma and independent candidate Paulo Kyeyune.
Kira municipality has been carved out of Kyadondo East. In the 2011 election for the Kyadondo East MP, Mr Ssemujju registered an overwhelming majority.

The municipality is divided into the three sub-counties of Kireka, Kyaliwajjala, Namugongo, Bweyogerere and Kira.
With the King of Buganda having his home in Kireka area, one’s stand on Buganda’s place in national politics comes into play.
And this is where Mr Ssemujju’s well-known passion about Buganda issues has served him well.

Also being the FDC’s candidate, he is likely to benefit from his party’s presidential flag bearer, Dr Kizza Besigye’s support in the district.
Dr Besigye’s home is in Kasangati, Wakiso, where he enjoys immense support.

Unlike in rural settings where politics has been largely monetised, Kira municipality falls in an urban setting where voters are more enlightened.

This makes a politician’s articulation of national issues, other than the handing out of ‘piecemeal groceries’, more important to many voters.

The outgoing Kyadondo East MP requires no introduction as he has gradually grown his political stature through activism for good and accountable government, and standing up for people’s rights, into a reputation that has an almost nationwide renown.

In the course of his defence of civil liberties and freedoms, Mr Ssemujju has also had several run-ins with the police. He has repeatedly been beaten, arrested and thrown into prison and released without charges. Undeterred, he remains a steadfast proponent of FDC’s national liberation and democratisation agenda.
Mr Ssemujju has the right pedigree, having defeated his opponents including NRM’s Sitenda Ssebalu in 2011 to take a seat that had previously been occupied by the NRM.

He scored 37,000 (51.4%) votes against Mr Sitenda’s 20,580 (29.7%).
The two were followed by DP’s Julius Sitenda with 9,618 votes (14 per cent) while the other four candidates shared the rest of the votes.

Kyadondo East constituency then had about 130,000 voters.
A journalist and vocal critic of the government, Mr Ssemujju says he decided to run in the municipality since that is where he resides.

One of his favourite causes: The controversy surrounding land in Kireka’s Kasokoso suburb is likely to be a key determinant of who will take the day.

The area was the scene of nasty clashes between residents and the police two years ago following a still unresolved notice of eviction that was issued by National Housing & Construction Corporation.

At most of his rallies, Mr Ssemujju has told Kasokoso residents and its neighbouring Acholi Quarters to remain put on the contested prime piece of land. His defence of their rights on this land is well documented both in Parliament and in the public record.
In parts of Bweyogerere and Bukasa, people are also living under the threat of eviction which makes land an issue in this campaign for many voters.

“Along the Southern Bypass route, people are on tenterhooks and fear that they would be evicted anytime. We are telling them to keep calm and stay put until government comes up with a solution that is agreeable to everyone,” Mr Ssemujju says.

While he is a member of the NRM, the outgoing mayor of Kira municipality, Mr Mamerito Mugerwa, who was instrumental in pushing for the creation of the municipality, acknowledges that Mr Ssemujju has an upper hand over the others, although he is quick to say he will still campaign for the NRM candidate.

“Our NRM candidate on the other hand is struggling to capture the seat for the NRM party … She will need our strong backing to win,” Mr Mugerwa said.

Mr Mugerwa did not pick nomination papers after serving in Kira’s elective politics for 15 years, citing intrigue within the NRM.
Speaking about what he called the unpredictability of the voters, he observes that this urban centre is full of young voters who will support the Opposition.

Critiqued
Some of the constituents like Mr Kenneth Kawuma, a resident of Kireka, have a word of advice for the leading candidate.
“He is one of those eloquent legislators who is respected by Ugandans but [Ssemujju] needs to take into consideration the pressing issues of his voters by cooperating with the government in one way or the other,” Mr Kawuma said.
It is this on this one point that the FDC man finds himself on slippery ground.

“The incumbent has done nothing and he is most remembered for criticising President Museveni,” says NRM’s Najjuma. “He ought to borrow a leaf from other Opposition politicians who have criticised government but also extended services closer to their people. He only bought a machine to print free posters for FDC candidates and nothing more.”

Similarly, NRM’s candidate for mayor, Mr Richard Kiyengo, talks about bread and butter issues but without remembering that the primary function of an MP is to represent his people, legislate and exercise oversight over the Executive.

“There is no single project to put to Mr Ssemujju’s name; no single school that he has lobbied for from the government and there is no income-generating activity he has initiated in the constituency,” Mr Kiyengo said.

While it’s not the role of the MP to set up development projects, Mr Kiyengo claims the MP could have used part of his salary to start up a small project to benefit the people.
But the MP scoffs at all this, standing by his track record which he pointedly says speaks for itself.

Little known Ms Najjuma is a teacher by profession who also holds degree in Community Development and wants to use that knowledge to start more income-generating projects.

“President Museveni gave us a welders’ project that is benefitting 40 youth groups. Each group has between 30 and 40 members and we will ensure they all benefit for self-empowerment.”

“Yes, we have not held any public rallies and that is our strategy because we need to convince our people why the NRM party and I have decided to contest. When you call rallies, it’s the same faces that show up so we are holding meetings and moving from house to house to meet our voters,” Ms Najjuma said.
She lives in the Buwate suburb but some Kira residents say she is new in the area.

Hailing from a musical family which includes the popular singer Bobi Wine, DP’s Eddie Yawe hopes to have better luck in Kira having failed in his bid to represent the Kampala Central constituency in the 2011 in which he came second.

And like the others, he hopes to draw attention to what he calls ‘non-performance’ of his FDC opponent.
“There is no single project you can put to his name. Ideally, a legislator is supposed to legislate for good laws, play an oversight job and also lobby government on a number of projects. We do not see the projects coming to benefit the people of Kira for the time he has been in Parliament,” Mr Yawe said.

He will, however, struggle to respond to criticism that he is the kind of politician who switches constituencies depending on the weather.

“He is a businessman who will contest in any constituency but does not have the zeal to serve the people,” a one Mr Bukenya observed.
It is against that background that one must rate Mr Yawe’s chances in this race which, for now, seems to be tilting in favour of the FDC firebrand with barely three weeks to go to election day.

Previous polls
Mr Ssemujju defeated his opponents including NRM’s Sitenda Ssebalu in 2011 to take a seat that had previously been occupied by the NRM. He scored 37,000 (51.4%) votes against Mr Sitenda’s 20,580 (29.7%). The two were followed by DP’s Julius Sitenda with 9,618 votes (14 per cent) while the other four candidates shared the rest of the votes. Kyadondo East constituency then had about 130,000 voters.

kira constituents state their demands from the new member of parliament

“As a youth, one of the biggest challenges we are facing is unemployment. I beg the incoming Member of Parliament for this area to consider us. This is not only the responsibility of the legislator but also the State.” Davis Mawanda, boda boda rider at Nsasa

“We need our MP to lobby for us agriculture inputs like coffee seedlings, banana suckers, among others. Otherwise, schools, hospitals and roads have been fixed. The problem is household income that should be addressed.”
Naboth Nabaasa, hardware porter Kyaliwajala

“Kira has been elevated to municipality status, this calls for more development. We need more piped water coverage, and tarmacked road network, among others. We need to see value for the taxes we pay to government.”
Sabiti Kalule Kajimu, shop keeper Kira Township

“We women need start-up capital to ensure that we have our own businesses. For example, I make chapatti but I am just being employed earning Shs3,000 [a day]. This money is not enough to sustain me a single mother with a family of three children.” Ruth Kafeero, chapati maker, Kira Township

“I want the incoming MP to monitor drugs in health centres and the quality of education our children are getting. If he or she is busy, they can appoint a committee to help monitor these services that are key for development.” Mathew Lutamaguzi, aspiring councillor for Nsasa

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